U.S. patent application number 13/677077 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-30 for locking cap apparatus and related methods.
This patent application is currently assigned to PROTECTRX LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is PROTECTRX LLC. Invention is credited to Derek Dahl.
Application Number | 20130134121 13/677077 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48430122 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130134121 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dahl; Derek |
May 30, 2013 |
LOCKING CAP APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS
Abstract
A locking cap apparatus includes a cap assembly having an outer
cap and an inner cap received within the outer cap, and further
includes lock setting members. The outer cap includes an actuator
coupled with a plunger. The plunger and the actuator are movable
within and relative to the outer and inner cap. The cap assembly is
rotatably and releasably coupled with external threads of a bottle.
The plunger has a locked position, an unlocked position, and a lock
change position, where the outer cap is rotatable relative to the
bottle when the plunger is in the locked position, unlocked
position, and optionally in the combination change position. Lock
setting members are interactively coupled with the shaft of the
plunger.
Inventors: |
Dahl; Derek; (Minneapolis,
MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PROTECTRX LLC; |
Minneapolis |
MN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
PROTECTRX LLC
Minneapolis
MN
|
Family ID: |
48430122 |
Appl. No.: |
13/677077 |
Filed: |
November 14, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61559544 |
Nov 14, 2011 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
215/217 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 70/554 20150401;
Y10T 70/5031 20150401; B65D 55/145 20130101; B65D 50/067 20130101;
Y10T 70/5571 20150401; Y10T 70/5562 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/217 |
International
Class: |
B65D 50/06 20060101
B65D050/06 |
Claims
1. A locking cap apparatus comprising: a cap assembly including an
outer cap and an inner cap received within the outer cap, the outer
cap including an actuator coupled with a plunger, the plunger
movable within and relative to the outer and inner cap; the
actuator movable relative to the outer and inner cap; the cap
assembly rotatably and releasably coupled with external threads of
a bottle; the plunger having a locked position, an unlocked
position, and a lock change position; the outer cap is rotatable
relative to the bottle when the plunger is in the locked position,
and unlocked position; the inner cap is rotatable relative to the
outer cap when the plunger is in the locked position; the inner cap
is not rotatable relative to the outer cap and rotates with the
outer cap when the plunger is in the unlocked position; and the cap
assembly further including lock setting members.
2. The locking cap apparatus as recited in claim 1, further
comprising an anti-tamper device coupled with the cap assembly.
3. The locking cap apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the
anti-tamper device is a sticker disposed over fasteners, where
removal of the fasteners allow disassembly of the cap assembly from
the bottle.
4. The locking cap apparatus as recited in claim 1, further
comprising at least one resilient member disposed between the
plunger and the cap assembly.
5. The locking cap apparatus as recited in claim 1, further
comprising at least one adapter coupled with the bottle, the
adapter including a second locking member, the first and second
locking members adapted to interact with one another, wherein the
adapter includes internal threads and the internal threads are
threadingly coupled with external threads of the bottle.
6. The locking cap apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the
lock setting members further include tumblers interactively coupled
with a shaft of the plunger.
7. The locking cap apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the
plunger includes projections received by the tumblers.
8. The locking cap apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the
inner cap includes one or more projections adapted to engage with a
coupling member.
9. The locking cap apparatus as recited in claim 1, the cap
assembly further includes a lock change lock out having an access
position and a lock out position, where the in the lock position,
the plunger cannot be disposed in the lock change position.
10. The locking cap apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the
outer cap spins freely relative to the bottle when the plunger is
in the combination change position.
11. A method comprising: rotatably coupling a cap assembly of a
locking cap apparatus to a bottle, the cap assembly including an
outer cap and an inner cap received within the outer cap, the outer
cap including an actuator coupled with a plunger, the plunger
movable within and relative to the outer and inner cap, the cap
assembly rotatably and releasably coupled with external threads of
a bottle, the plunger having a locked position, an unlocked
position, and a lock change position, the outer cap is rotatable
relative to the bottle when the plunger is in the locked position,
unlocked position, and combination change position, the inner cap
is rotatable relative to the outer cap when the plunger is in the
locked position, the inner cap is not rotatable relative to the
outer cap and rotates with the outer cap when the plunger is in the
unlocked position, the cap assembly further including lock setting
members; placing the plunger in a lock change position; setting the
lock setting members to a setting; and placing the plunger in the
locked position.
12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein placing the plunger
in the unlocked position includes coupling the inner cap with the
outer cap, and rotating the outer cap rotates the inner relative to
the bottle.
13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein placing the plunger
in the locked position includes depressing the actuator.
14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein placing the plunger
in the locked position includes releasing the actuator.
15. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising actuating
a combination lock member and preventing the lock setting member
from being re-set while the combination lock member is
actuated.
16. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising disposing
an adapter on the bottle and coupling the cap assembly with the
adapter.
17. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising
depressing the actuator and placing the plunger in the combination
change position, including disengaging the plunger from one or more
tumblers.
18. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising securing
the inner cap with the outer cap when the plunger is in an unlocked
position, including disposing a coupling within spokes on an upper
portion of the inner cap.
19. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising unlocking
the cap includes rotating the cap while depressing the cap toward
the bottle.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to provisional application
entitled "Locking Cap Apparatus and Related Methods" filed on Nov.
14, 2011, having serial number U.S. 61/559,544, and attorney docket
no. 06500.001PV1 and which is incorporated herein in its
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Assemblies useful in locking bottles for prescription drugs,
narcotics, alcohol and the like.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Childproof prescription drug bottles are available. However,
conventional devices fail to prevent other non-authorized users
from removing drugs, alcohol, or other contents within bottles.
Still further, the owner of the contents cannot detect if some of
the contents have been removed or used without authorization.
SUMMARY
[0004] In one or more embodiments, a locking cap apparatus includes
a cap assembly having an outer cap and an inner cap received within
the outer cap, and further includes lock setting members. The outer
cap includes an actuator coupled with a plunger. The plunger and
the actuator are movable within and relative to the outer and inner
cap. The cap assembly is rotatably and releasably coupled with
external threads of a bottle. The plunger has a locked position, an
unlocked position, and a lock change position, where the outer cap
is rotatable relative to the bottle when the plunger is in the
locked position, unlocked position, and combination change
position. The inner cap is rotatable relative to the outer cap when
the plunger is in the locked position, and the inner cap is not
rotatable relative to the outer cap and rotates with the outer cap
when the plunger is in the unlocked position.
[0005] In one or more embodiments, the locking cap apparatus
further includes an anti-tamper device coupled with the cap
assembly, such as a sticker disposed over fasteners, where removal
of the fasteners allow disassembly of the cap assembly from the
bottle. In one or more embodiments, the locking cap apparatus
further includes at least one adapter coupled with the bottle, the
adapter including a second locking member, the first and second
locking members adapted to interact with one another, wherein the
adapter includes internal threads, and the internal threads are
threadingly coupled with external threads of the bottle. In one or
more embodiments, the cap assembly further includes a lock change
lock out having an access position and a lock out position.
[0006] In one or more embodiments, a method comprises rotatably
coupling a cap assembly of a locking cap apparatus to a bottle, the
cap assembly including an outer cap and an inner cap received
within the outer cap, the outer cap including an actuator coupled
with a plunger, the plunger movable within and relative to the
outer and inner cap, the cap assembly rotatably and releasably
coupled with external threads of a bottle, the plunger having a
locked position, an unlocked position, and a lock change position,
the outer cap is rotatable relative to the bottle when the plunger
is in the locked position, unlocked position, and combination
change position, the inner cap is rotatable relative to the outer
cap when the plunger is in the locked position, the inner cap is
not rotatable relative to the outer cap and rotates with the outer
cap when the plunger is in the unlocked position, the cap assembly
further including lock setting members. The method further includes
placing the plunger in a lock change position, setting the lock
setting members to a setting, and placing the plunger in the locked
position.
[0007] A locking cap apparatus includes a cap assembly with a cap
having a port, and the cap assembly is rotatably coupled with a
bottle, and the bottle has an opening covered by the cap assembly.
The locking cap apparatus further includes a locking assembly
having a plunger, and the plunger has a locked and unlocked
position. The plunger has a shaft and a first locking member, and
the plunger partially extends through the port in both the locked
and the unlocked position. Lock setting members are interactively
coupled with the shaft of the plunger. The locking cap apparatus
optionally includes at least one adapter coupled with the bottle,
where the adapter includes a second locking member, and the first
and second locking members adapted to interact with one
another.
[0008] A method includes coupling a cap assembly of a locking cap
apparatus to a bottle. The method further includes setting lock
setting members to a setting, and locking the cap assembly to the
bottle including depressing the plunger toward the cap
assembly.
[0009] These and other embodiments, aspects, advantages, and
features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the
description which follows, and in part will become apparent to
those skilled in the art by reference to the following description
of the invention and referenced drawings or by practice of the
invention. The aspects, advantages, and features of the invention
are realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities,
procedures, and combinations particularly pointed out in the
appended claims and their equivalents.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0010] FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of a locking cap
apparatus according to one or more embodiments.
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the locking cap
apparatus of FIG. 1 according to one or more embodiments.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the locking cap
apparatus according to one or more embodiments.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the locking cap
apparatus according to one or more embodiments.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an outer cap of the locking
cap apparatus according to one or more embodiments.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the locking cap
apparatus according to one or more embodiments, shown in the locked
position.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the locking cap
apparatus according to one or more embodiments, shown in the
unlocked position.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a locking cap apparatus
according to one or more embodiments.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of a locking cap
apparatus according to one or more embodiments.
[0019] FIG. 10A illustrates an isometric view of the cap assembly
in a combination change position, according to one or more
embodiments.
[0020] FIG. 10B illustrates an isometric view of the cap assembly
in a locked position, according to one or more embodiments.
[0021] FIG. 10C illustrates an isometric view of the cap assembly
in an unlocked position, according to one or more embodiments.
[0022] FIG. 11A illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cap
assembly in a combination change position, according to one or more
embodiments.
[0023] FIG. 11B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cap
assembly in a locked position, according to one or more
embodiments.
[0024] FIG. 11C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cap
assembly in an unlocked position, according to one or more
embodiments.
[0025] FIG. 12 illustrates an exploded view of the cap assembly in
accordance with one or more embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] The following detailed description includes references to
the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed
description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific
embodiments in which the bottle and cap assembly may be practiced.
These embodiments, which are also referred to herein as "examples"
or "options," are described in enough detail to enable those
skilled in the art to practice the present invention. The
embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized or
structural or logical changes may be made without departing from
the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is,
therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and the scope of the
invention is defined by the appended claims and their legal
equivalents.
[0027] In this document, the terms "a" or "an" are used to include
one or more than one, and the term "or" is used to refer to a
nonexclusive "or" unless otherwise indicated. In addition, it is to
be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein,
and not otherwise defined, is for the purpose of description only
and not of limitation.
[0028] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a locking cap apparatus 100 which
includes a cap assembly 140, a bottle 110, and optionally an
adapter 180 (FIGS. 6 and 7) coupled with the bottle 110. The
locking cap apparatus 100 allows for the cap assembly 140 to be
locked relative to the bottle 110 such that the cap assembly 140
cannot be removed from the bottle 110 by someone other than the
intended user. This allows for prevention of unauthorized use of
drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol, or abuse of or otherwise
unauthorized use of substances stored in the bottle 110. FIGS. 8-9
illustrate additional variations for the bottle and cap
assembly.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the cap assembly 140 includes an
outer cap 141, an inner cap 142, and a locking assembly. The
locking assembly includes a plunger 118 that is at least partially
disposed through an opening or port 144 of the outer cap 141. The
plunger 118 extends at least partially external to the outer cap
141 in the unlocked position, and optionally in the locked
position. This allows the user to determine if another person has
been attempting to unlock or alter the plunger 118 in an effort to
remove the cap assembly from the bottle, for example by bending or
breaking the plunger 118, or removing the tamper proof sticker
119.
[0030] The plunger 118 further includes a shaft that interacts with
tumblers 194, the spring member 126, the inner cap 142, and the
wire catch 128. The wire catch 128 has a first portion that
rotatably fits within an opening of the cap 141 (FIG. 6). The wire
catch 128 has a second portion that moves between a first opening
129 and a second opening 121 of the plunger shaft, depending on
whether the plunger 118 is in the locked or unlocked position. In
one or more embodiments, the plunger 118 further includes a locking
member 124 that moves when the plunger 118 moves from the locked to
unlocked position, and the unlocked to locked position (see FIGS. 6
and 7).
[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, the plunger 118 engages and disengages
from the inner cap 142 via a concentric ring of teeth 147 on the
top of the cap. When the plunger 118 is disengaged from the inner
cap 142, the cap cannot be rotated and unscrewed from the bottle.
The wire catch 128 holds the plunger at the locked and unlocked
positions via a latch track in the plunger 118. The plunger action
is a "latching" catch mechanism. The inner cap 142, in an option,
snaps into an inner portion of the outer cap 141. A variety of
sizes of the inner cap 142 can be provided to accommodate various
sized bottles. In an embodiment, the inner cap 142 cannot be
removed once snapped into the outer cap 141. The inner cap 142 has
internal threads, which correspond to external threads on
prescription bottles and/or liquor bottle threads. In an
embodiment, an adapter 180 can be used to provide the external
threads on a device to be locked (FIGS. 6 and 7). In another
embodiment, the inner cap 142 can be sized to accommodate a variety
of different sized bottles and/or threads.
[0032] When the plunger 118 is disengaged, for example, when the
combination is not set, from the inner cap teeth 147, the outer cap
141 will spin freely around the inner cap 142. In an embodiment, a
member such as a three-finger spring 114 maintains the number
wheels in position and/or provides tactile snapping feed back to
the user that the next number has been selected. The spring member
126 is used to push open the plunger 118 into the unlocked
position. The tumbler spring 138 is used to keep the tumblers 194
engaged with the number wheels 192 and to return the tumblers 194
to the home position once the combination is set. An anti-tamper
sticker 119 is used to cover screws 108 holding the top 139 of the
outer cap 141. If the user forgets their combination but needs
immediate access to their medication, the anti-tamper sticker 119
can be breached, for example, removed, and the cap assembly can be
disassembled. Disruption to the sticker 119 will provide an alert
that the cap assembly has been removed or attempted to be
removed.
[0033] The locking mechanism, in an option, includes two or more
wheels 192, such as three wheels. The wheels 131 include indicia
allowing for a user to select a certain orientation of the wheels
or other locking mechanism that will allow for the cap assembly 140
to be removed from the bottle 110. For example, the indicia could
be the numerals 0-9, and a user could select a numerical
combination such as "3-5-8" to unlock the cap 142 from the bottle
110. In an option, the wheels 131 include internal slots and/or
ridges which interact with the plunger 118, such as slots or ridges
external to the plunger 118.
[0034] To re-set the code of the cap assembly 140, the user will
press firmly on the plunger 118, while or after the unlocking
combination has been set. While holding this plunger 118 tightly,
the user can then select the desired combination code. The inner
tumblers 194 will remain in place while the outer members, such as
number wheels 192, spin to the selected combination numbers. When
selected, by letting go of the plunger 118, the catch spring
retracts into the locked position and re-engages the inner tumblers
194 with the number wheels 192. If the user were to push on the
outer portion of the outer cap 141 and the inner tumblers 194 when
not set to the correct combination, the plunger 118 could not move.
The combination would then be reset and the user could then spin
the number wheels to lock the device
[0035] When the user wishes to lock the cap 142 to the bottle 110,
the locking mechanism is set to the previously indicated setting in
order to depress the plunger 118. The plunger 118 can include an
actuator integral therewith, or separate thereto. The plunger 118
is depressed toward the cap 142, depressing a resilient member such
as the spring member 126 with the plunger shaft and releasing the
wire catch 128. In this position, the user then scrambles or
otherwise changes the indicia of the locking mechanism to thereby
lock the cap assembly 140 to the bottle 110. The user releases the
plunger 118, and the plunger 118 remains in the locked position
held by wire catch 128, and the spring member 126 remains
compressed. When in the locked position, the ridges of the shaft in
combination with ridges of the locking mechanism prevent movement
of the plunger 118. The wheels can be rotated or otherwise
scrambled from the combination code.
[0036] When a user unlocks the cap assembly, the user first aligns
the number wheels 192 to the appropriate combination code. The
plunger 118 is then pressed to release the wire catch 128. This
will engage plunger 118 with the teeth on the inner cap 142. When
the user then rotates the outer cap 141 and the cap assembly will
unscrew from the bottle.
[0037] In a further embodiment, an adapter 180 is used, for
example, with liquor bottles. When the plunger 118 is in the locked
position, the locking member 124 engages a second locking member of
the adapter 180. The adapter 180 is coupled with the bottle 110,
for example, the adapter 180 includes internal threads and is
threadingly coupled with one or more external threads of a bottle
110, such as, but not limited to a prescription bottle, a liquor
bottle, etc. In a further option, the adapter 180 is coupled with
the bottle with an interference fit.
[0038] The adapter 180 includes the second locking member. When the
first locking member is engaged with the second locking member, the
cap 142 cannot be removed from the bottle 110. In an option, the
cap 142 is rotatable relative to the bottle 110, even when the
first locking member is engaged with the second locking member, and
the plunger is in the locked position. In an option, the first
locking member 124 is a projection and the second locking member
129 is a recess. It should be noted that the locking member 124
could be a recess and the second locking member 129 could be a
projection, or variations or combinations of these. In a further
option, the second locking member 129 can be formed on the bottle
110 or another component allowing for the cap 142 to be locked with
the bottle 110.
[0039] In a further option, the cap assembly 140 includes a second
locking assembly, such as a child-proof locking mechanism. The
second locking assembly, in an option, includes an inner cap 142
that allows allows for the cap 141 to spin relative to the bottle
110 regardless if the cap assembly is locked or unlocked relative
to the bottle 110. When the cap assembly is unlocked relative to
the bottle, as discussed above, the inner cap 142 can still prevent
the cap assembly 140 from being removed from the bottle 110, for
example, using child-type lock. For example, to remove the cap
assembly 140 from the bottle 110 when the plunger 118 is in the
unlocked position, the user would depress the cap 142, and thus the
second cap 210 would be depressed toward the bottle 110, overcoming
the child-type lock, and allowing for the cap assembly 140 to be
removed from the bottle 110.
[0040] In a further option, a method includes coupling a cap
assembly of a locking cap apparatus to a bottle, the cap assembly
including a cap assembly including a cap having a port, the cap
assembly rotatably coupled with a bottle, the bottle having an
opening covered by the cap assembly, a locking assembly including a
plunger, the plunger having a locked and unlocked position, the
plunger at least extending through the port in both the locked and
the unlocked position, the plunger including a shaft and a first
locking member, lock setting members interactively coupled with the
shaft of the plunger, and at least one adapter 180 coupled with the
bottle, the adapter 180 including a second locking member, the
first and second locking members adapted to interact with one
another. The method further includes setting the lock setting
members to a setting, and locking the cap assembly to the bottle
including depressing the plunger toward the cap assembly. In a
further option, the method includes rotating the cap relative to
the bottle while the cap assembly is locked to the bottle, or
unlocking the cap includes rotating the cap while depressing the
cap toward the bottle. In yet another option, the method includes
removing the adapter 180 including rotating the adapter 180
relative to the bottle.
[0041] FIGS. 10A-10C, 11A-11C, and 12 illustrate a locking cap
apparatus 200 in accordance with one or more embodiments. The above
discussion of FIGS. 1-9 is incorporated herein, and the embodiments
and variations can be used in combination with those of FIGS.
10A-10C, 11A-11C, and 12. FIGS. 10A, 11A illustrate the locking cap
apparatus 200 disposed in the lock change position, FIGS. 10B, 11B
illustrate the locking cap apparatus 200 disposed in the locked
position, and FIGS. 10C, 11C illustrate the locking cap apparatus
200 disposed in the open position.
[0042] Referring to FIGS. 10A, 11A, in the lock change position,
the actuator 219 is depressed toward the outer cap 241, and the
plunger 218 fully compresses the resilient member 226, such, as the
spring, and the plunger 218 interacts with the tumblers 231 and
lock setting members 233 allowing for the lock setting members 233
to be set to a particular numerical setting or combination as
discussed above. In one or more embodiments, the locking cap
apparatus 200 includes a lock change lock out 203, such as a slide
member. The lock change lock out 203 is disposed in an access
position, as shown in FIG. 11A. When in this position, the plunger
is free to move into a lock change position of FIG. 11A. When
disposed in a lock out position, as shown in FIG. 11B, the lock
change lock out 203 prevents the plunger 218 from moving into the
lock change position, and the combination will not be accidentally
re-set. In one or more embodiments, the lock change lock out 203
can be slid from the access position to the lock out position, and
back to the access position.
[0043] When the cap assembly 200 is in the locked position, as
shown in FIGS. 10B and 11B, the outer cap 241 spins relative to the
inner cap 242, and the cap assembly 240 cannot be removed from the
bottle as further discussed above. For example, the plunger 218
fails to engage the inner cap 242, and does not couple the inner
cap 242 with the outer cap 241.
[0044] In the open position, as shown in FIGS. 10C and 11C, the
plunger 218 engages a portion of the inner cap 242, as further
discussed above. For example, the plunger 218 engages a gear or a
series of projections 235 on the inner cap, and effectively couples
the outer cap 241 with the inner cap 242, such that the cap
assembly 240 can be removed from the bottle.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 12, an exploded view of the locking cap
apparatus 200, where the components can be seen in greater detail,
and are further discussed above. Additional options include one or
more wheel springs 208, allowing for a more tactile response when a
user changes the number wheel to set the combination.
[0046] In one or more embodiments, a method comprises rotatably
coupling a cap assembly of a locking cap apparatus to a bottle, the
cap assembly including an outer cap and an inner cap received
within the outer cap, the outer cap including an actuator coupled
with a plunger, the plunger movable within and relative to the
outer and inner cap, the cap assembly rotatably and releasably
coupled with external threads of a bottle, the plunger having a
locked position, an unlocked position, and a lock change position,
the outer cap is rotatable relative to the bottle when the plunger
is in the locked position, unlocked position, and combination
change position, the inner cap is rotatable relative to the outer
cap when the plunger is in the locked position, the inner cap is
not rotatable relative to the outer cap and rotates with the outer
cap when the plunger is in the unlocked position, the cap assembly
further including lock setting members. The method further includes
placing the plunger in a lock change position, setting the lock
setting members to a setting, and placing the plunger in the locked
position.
[0047] It is to be understood that the above description is
intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other
embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon
reading and understanding the above description. It should be noted
that embodiments discussed in different portions of the description
or referred to in different drawings can be combined to form
additional embodiments of the present application. The scope of the
invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the
appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which
such claims are entitled.
* * * * *